ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 3, CROW MOUNTAIN

FIRST RACE

The card Monday features a pair of conditioned allowances, and Tyler Baze has mounts in both races. In the opener, IN THE RED gets the nod off a runner-up finish against similar. The start was her first of the year and suspect she will make good use of the bit of added ground she picks up in this spot. LA VIDA brings good racing experience to the table and draws a much improved post over her last two starts. GOINGTOAGOGO is back at a mile and a sixteenth, site of one of the best races of her career.

SECOND RACE

CIAO CIAO represented herself well against open foes last time and is now back with statebreds. She also could be sitting on a peak race in the third start of her form cycle. MISS SPICY should be sharp for the move back to two turns off the seven-eighths race. SUE’S EASTER GIRL, who faced older rivals for the first time last out, also moves from seven-eighths to a mile. This marks her first start in the claiming ranks.

THIRD RACE

CROW MOUNTAIN was fourth last out in a race that has become a key one. The 10th-place finisher, Humor Controller, returned in his next start to win a $7,500 maiden claimer at LS and the 12th place finisher, Written Permission, a $5K maiden claimer at Fair Meadows, with a Beyer of 45. FLEXATI, who faced older rivals for the first time last out, lands in a field largely comprised of 3-year-olds. His most recent out came against higher-priced foes. THREE EYED RAVEN is by a young stallion who is getting 13 percent debut winners from a limited sample. This one’s dam was placed and is a 100 percent producer, with three winners from three foals to race.

FOURTH RACE

RESTORING HOPE launches his season here and shows a strong five-eighths work for his return. He has had success off the bench in the past and is further appealing on class as one who was Grade 2-placed in the Wood Memorial in 2018. The winner of that race went on to capture last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic. IMPACT PLAYER was third last out in a key race. The sixth-place finisher, Arcadia Calls, returned in his next start to account for a $20K claimer at LS with a Beyer of 79 and the eighth-place finisher, About Our Time, another $20K claimer at LS, with a Beyer of 86. In addition, note the runner-up from the race IMPACT PLAYER exits was to have started as a top choice in Saturday night’s $60K Louisiana Legends Sprint at Evangeline Downs. LEROY has been flattered since his win last out, with third-place finisher NEW COLOSSUS coming back in his next start to account for an N1X at LS with a Beyer of 79 and fifth-place finisher VIOLENT RIDGE another N1X at LS, with a Beyer of 85. LEROY could get a decent setup behind a few of these. Baze is named to ride the multiple stakes-placed 3-year-old LYKAN.

FIFTH RACE

GRACELY cuts back to one turn and the last time she raced at five-eighths on the grass she was just edged. She owns this field’s best last-race Beyer Figure, has reason to move forward in her second start since March, and goes for a barn in the midst of a strong meet. GRACELY also is a well-bred sort as a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Irish Jasper ($560K). GRAY ZONE ran a big race off the bench last out when second at this level and the race went quite quick. JUSTATAPIN launched her career last out in a turf sprint and ran a credible second despite trouble. For this trip, she adds blinkers.

SIXTH RACE

The Arizona-bred ALBERTA SUN is by a stallion who is getting 10 percent juvenile debut winners. This one’s dam was a two-time winner, both sprints, and from six foals to race has produced five winners. SET THE PACE is by a stallion who is getting 8 percent juvenile debut winners. This one’s dam was a winner at 2 and she is a 100 percent producer, with four winners from four foals to race. LOVE BITES has experience on top

two with a start under her belt. Like the fact that she showed speed in the race.

SEVENTH RACE

UNAPOLOGETICALLY faced winners for the first time last out and the start came against steeper. This one also has reason to move forward in her second start since February. MY ROYAL ROCKET moves back to dirt, where she has run well in the past, and also cuts back to a sprint distance. EATON’S BOOGIE meets winners for the first time in what is her first out since January.

EIGHTH RACE

FROSTED BLING has been right there in each of his starts at the meet and this time around finally shakes Meme Jo, who has won all three of his outs this season at Lone Star. SINGING ACES has hooked Meme Jo in each of his last two starts. SHOTSOFT cuts back to one turn and returns to dirt and his last win came under such “conditions.” Class play.

NINTH RACE

LOOKIN SHARP was second to a quality kind of winner last out in an off-the-turf allowance at Lone Star. This one set the pace over a laboring kind of track. On a pedigree point, LOOKIN SHARP is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Steady Warrior ($253K) and stakes winner Steady N Love ($241K). LADY GWEN put in a big run for third last time in her first out in two and a half months. She would seem to have reason to move forward. ZABETTE is a three-time winner facing some lessexperienced foes. Baze is named to ride by Willis.